question about Kombu and the thyroid chemicals it is said to contain

[2big4mysize]

anybody using Kombu as a supplement to their thyroid meds? According to a study done in 2002 the iodine in the seaweed is actually thyroid hormones chemically.

c. A recent Japanese publication reports the detection of physiologically significant amounts of THYROXINE (T4) and LIOTHYRONINE (T3), as well as DIT and MIT in Laminaria Sp. (Kombu) and Sargassum sp. Seaweeds (7).

This has enormous implications for both dietary caution for Kombu eaters and for hypothyroidism treatments by healers. All seaweed health and nutrition studies using either Laminaria or Sargassum will need to be re-evaluated for the effects of probable cryptic T4 and T3 supplementation.

Those who have been eating lots of Kombu regularly might wish to stop for 60-90 days and see if they become clinically hypothyroid.

I strongly believe that many of the health benefits attributed to Kombu and other brown seaweeds are probably due to cryptic thyroid hormone supplementation. I refer to the lowering of arterial blood pressure, reducing blood triglyceride levels, promoting weight loss, resolution of skin problems, mood enhancement, etc. (7).7. Kazutosi, Nisizawa. 2002. Seaweeds Kaiso:Bountiful Harvest From the Seas. Sustenance for Health and Wellbeing.

I can't find any follow up studies where hypothyroid folk were actually studied consuming it so I was wondering if any LCFs thyroid folk knew anything about it or were using it.

[inatic]

interesting? Not heard of it.

[nonstickpam107]

It is not. The thyroid has to have some iodine in order to work. If your thyroid doesn't work, it can't use any of the iodine. If you have Hashimoto's (the most common form of hypothyroidism in women) the iodine can actually bring on an attack of the antbodies.

There has not been a true case of iodine deficient hypothyroidism in a female in the USA (one who eats well, isn't under nourished) for over 100 years. I'm really getting kind of 'tired' of all this 'just take some iodine and you'll be well, there ya go' stuff lately. If that were true, NONE of us would need any replacement thyroid hormones.

Oh, do we live in Japan? Nope. And boy howdy are WE lucky!!! Cuz over there you'll be lucky to even find a physician if you have a goiter the size of a grapefruit...all you'll get is seaweed! I have about 60 emails FROM Japan though....so if anyone has been there, or lives there...and could steer these poor women (all with Hashimoto's) to a doc there who actually treats it...that would be wonderful.

Pam

[2big4mysize]

Pam they are not saying take the iodine and make those hormones

they are saying that Kombu actually has iodine in it that is in the chemical structure of molecules of those thyroid hormones so swallowing that seaweed would be like taking a dose of thyroid hormones.

[watcher513]

Probably should read Pam's 1st paragraph again. The answer is there. Other than that, I've never heard of it.

[nonstickpam107]

Yep, Ianswered ya. All doctors, scientists, endo's, etc. KNOW the thyroid itself uses the iodine in your own body to make it's hormones. ??? But it CANNOT do that if the thyroid doesn't work properly. Giving more iodine isn't what makes it work. It won't work anymore cuz we have an autoimmune disease that destroyed the hormone making part of your thyroid. KWIM now?

We, in the USA, get PLENTY OF IODINE and right now, as we speak (or type, lol) scientists are trying to figure out if maybe too MUCH iodine actually speeds up the process of triggering Hashimoto's since we in the USA are so WELL FED with iodine.

Pam

[2big4mysize]

Originally Posted by watcher513

Probably should read Pam's 1st paragraph again. The answer is there. Other than that, I've never heard of it.

I did read it. I am not asking about taking elemental iodine as a supplement.
I also know every thyroid hormone in our body has iodine as an atom in the final molectular structure. read my post.

The sea weed has already made thyroid hornmones in it just like the levoxyl, synthroid, armor and naturethryriod or any other thyroid medication folk are swallowing. That was what I was asking about.

[nonstickpam107]

No, seaweed does not contain those hormones. They might even be called 'precursors' or 'cryptic' hormones. (And Japan's idea of how much thyroid hormone you need is WAY lower than the USA's....Japan doesn't medicate for T3, and therefore would make a 'big deal' out of anything that might contain even precursors).

It's 'kind of like' those over the counter bovine thyroid hormone supplements...they say it will 'replace' your hormones, but the hormone that is IN it has been 'washed' and is now 'cryptic'. HTH

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Oh, just wanted to add: I have further studies of Kombu and 'too much iodine' increasing numbers of those with thyroid cancer in other countries. And it goes on to say that even when the Japanese have goiters from eating too MUCH Kombu/seaweed, it's not treated.

There is only one study I'm privy too which is a study of nine people (all male, wouldn't ya know) who were given Kombu (strips/planks) over a period of a year who's TSH was all the way down to 4.2. That is all...just that...and that five had large goiters.

You see, you don't know how MUCH cryptic hormone is in it, therefore it's not a viable option for most of us...many with Hashi's have become 'worse' with antibody reactions from iodine. It would be wonderful if they could 'take' T3 from the Kombu and regulate it though. (Of course then they'd have a fit over the fact that it is natural and couldn't be regulated, controlled and patented to make lots of money).

Pam